If one is allowed to have favourites in the addiction recovery field, I must say that Phil Valentine is one of my favourite people. What Phil and his colleagues have achieved at Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) is quite simply amazing. I have been a great fan of their work for many years.
On 27 March this year, Phil posted the following on his Facebook page:
‘Retirement Announcement
With a mixture of sadness, anticipation, nostalgia, and pride, I announce my decision to retire as executive director of the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR), effective October 4, 2024, the day before my 65th birthday.
With my recent 2nd cancer diagnosis and the death of my parents two years ago, I’ve plummeted into a consistent state of contemplation where I’ve wrestled with a gnawing question: what do I do with the time I have left? A deep question for all of us. I’ve been toting a heavy backpack for many years. I’m used to the weight and think I’ve handled it well enough. But I wonder what it would be like to shed it. Will the rest of my walk of life be a little lighter? That is my desire. And my soul says it is time to go.
Just for today, I’ve chosen a future of creating art, continuing to facilitate recovery coach training, establishing myself as a seasoned brilliant fisherman, possibly walking the Appalachian Trail again, picking up trash with the Ocean Recovery Community Alliance (ORCA), writing CCAR: The 1st 25 Years, picking up the odd consulting job, walking in the woods, traveling, spending time with Sandy in our cottage in Rhode Island and enjoying our children and grandchildren whenever possible.
The next executive director will be hired by a search committee led by a respected, competent outside consultant who will open the position nationwide. In other words, there is no chosen successor waiting in the wings. CCAR has established a solid foundation with a remarkable body of service work functioning beautifully, a fantastic opportunity for the next leader.
Finally, I hope my work here finds a way to touch the future.
I am supremely confident that the brilliant CCAR team will under any circumstance, continue. Recovery always finds a way.
With much love and appreciation,
Phil “DJ Right Click” Valentine,
CCAR Executive Director’
You can view a deeply moving short film of Phil making this announcement on his Facebook page just under the above post.
Phil has inspired me so much over the years and has helped enhance my knowledge. Sadly, we have never met in person, although we were invited to talk at the same UK conference in 2010. We looked forward to our finally be able to meet, but then both had to cancel due to a health problem (Phil) and a family problem (me).
I wish Phil the very best on his onward journey.